Carrel unit



May 5, 1953 A. s. MACDONALD CARREL UNIT 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Oct. 13, 1949 INVENTOR Azggus Snead Mada/raid y ATTORNEY May 5, I953 A. s. MACDONALD CARREL UNIT Filed Oct. 15, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 lllllllllllllh 1 N VENTOR Argus Snead filacdonah ATTGRNEY Patented May 5, 1953 CARREL UNIT Angus Snead MacDonald, near Rapidan, Va., assignor to The Globe-Wernicke 00., a corporation of Ohio Application October 13, 1949, Serial No. 121,133

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in carrel units, adapted for reading and studying purposes in libraries and the like.

Heretofore, it was the custom to provide either tables or individual desks in libraries. However, a need has arisen for individual study units and especially for such units as may be spaced over the floor area of the library.

An object of this invention is to improve the construction of carrel units to provide for the efficient use thereof in spaced relation over the floor of the library space, to accommodate students for reading or studying.

A further object of the invention is to provide for the assembly of carrel units of standard parts which can be put together to take care of one student, two students, three or four, as space and requirements indicate.

Another object of the invention is to improve the structure of the carrel unit by providing not only for the support of a typewriter associated therewith, but also the provision of sound absorption about the working space of the carrel unit so the operation of the typewriter will not be objectionable to other students in nearby areas.

These objects may be accomplished by an assembly of a pair of carrel units that have interposed therebetween a unit which preferably is supported by the pair of units, utilizing the backs of the latter to provide the sides of the interposed unit. This forms a multiple assembly that will accommodate up to two, three or four students, each with an individual work table or desk effectively separated from the adjacent work tables or desks.

Provision may be made also for the support of a typewriter at one of the working spaces of the carrel unit with suitable sound proofing adjacent thereto to prevent interference by the typewriter with students in adjacent areas. The typewriter support may be so constructed that the typewriter may be moved into and out of operative positions with a desk surface alternating with the typewriter when the latter is not in use.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the carrel unit;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of another form of carrel unit embodying this invention;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation thereof; and

Fig. 5 is a cross section therethrough on the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

l and 2 of the drawings the carrel unit comprises two end desk units, generally designated at l and 2, and an intermediate desk unit 3 interposed between the units and 2.

Each of the end desk units l and 2 comprises opposite sides 4 of a lower section of desk height and supporting thereon a desk top 5. An upper portion is formed by opposite sides 6 of appreciably narrower width than the sides 4 so as not to obstruct the working area of the desk top 5. The sides 6 may be formed integral with the sides 4 or of separate pieces and secured in place thereon. A shelf I is secured between the sides 6, spaced above the desk top 5.

A back wall for each end desk unit is designated at 8. In the form shown, the back wall 8 extends continuously throughout the height of the end unit forming the back of both the lower and upper sections.

These parts may be secured together in rigid relation to form a unit, although parts thereof may be separable if desired. Any suitable material may be used for the purpose, either Wood or metal.

The intermediate unit 3 is formed of an intermediate upright wall 9 detachably or rigidly secured at its opposite edges by suitable fastenings to the inner faces of the back walls 8 of the end units, and supported thereby. The wall 9 holds the end units 1 and 2 spaced apart.

A desk top It! is secured to each opposite side of the wall 9 and also extends between the adjacent back walls 8 of the end units. Shelves II may be provided also on opposite sides of the upright Wall 9.

Each of the side supports is shown as formed with supporting feet [2 for the sections of the carrel unit. It is preferred to use rubber protective shoes l3 on the feet l2 to protect the sides thereof, although these may be omitted if not required.

A modified form of this invention is illustrated in Figs. 3 to 5, in which end desk units 2| and 22 are separated by a single unit 23 intermediate the back walls of the units 2! and 22. The latter are shown as constructed substantially in the same form as described above in connection with the units 1 and 2 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The intermediate unit 23 has an upright wall 24 extending between the back walls of the units 2| and 22 and supported thereby, being secured by suitable fastenings to said end units. Extending forwardly from the upright wall 24 is a desk top 25 located intermediate the height of the upright wall and in a suitable position for a Working area. A shelf 26 is spaced above the desk top 25 and also extends forwardly from the upright 24. This shelf 23 may extend as far as desired over the desk top 25 and be located at any suitable point along the height of the desk unit.

It is preferred that the space defined by the back walls of the end desk units 2! and 22, by the upright wall as and beneath the shelf 26 over the desk top 25 maybe lined withasuitable soundabsorbing facing, generally designated as 21, which will tend to confine the sound to the working space of the desk unit so as not to interfere with other students in adjacent units. Any suitable material may be used for this purpose as is well known in the art of building construction.

Figs. land of the drawings, whereby the sectioned may be moved alternately between its full-line-and dotted-line positions inFig. A typewriter T is shown as securely clamped to the under surface of the section 28 when the latter is in its dull-line position-so as to locate the typewriter in its operative position when supported on the section 23 in its "dotted-line position. Abutments are shown at 39 to limit the swinging movement of the section -28 between its full-line and dotted-line positions, which 'abutments are secured to the under side of the desk-support 25.

The typewriter maybe held in place on the section 28 by screw iastenings or in any other suitable way. It is shown as-confined-by' a shield 31 extending'over the top thereof and connected bya friction hinge 32 with-a bracket 33 secured to the under surface of the section -28. These p'aitsiil -Sfi form a sheet metal guard beneath the typewriter in its stored position to protect the typewriter from being injured by the knees of -a person working at the carrel unit when the typewriter is not in use.

The typewriter is shown as located in the center of the intermediate section 23. However, it is recognized that it may be-turned in other positions with respect thereto, as, forinstance, atan "acute angle to the length of the section. This provision of the typewriter attachment for the carrelunit enables the student to type directly at the unit and yet the noise otherwise normally Zpresent or resulting therefrom is effectively reduced by the sound proofing surrounding the typing compartment.

This construction is simple and inexpensive to build and install. The respective units ma be transported separately and assembled "and secured, at the point of use, to facilitate transportation andease of handling.

When in use the carrel unit will accommodate from one to four students for work or study at the respective desks, which are separated from each other so as not to interfere one with another. The relation of the walls also tends to-eliminate sound disturbance, and additional sound proofing of the respective desks may be installed if needed.

'While the invention has been illustrated and described in certain embodiments, it is recognized that other variations and changes -may bemade therein without departing irom the invention, except as specified in the "claims.

=I claim:

1. In a carrelunit, the combination of spaced apart end study units, each of said units in cluding an upright back wall, upright opposite side walls extending outwardly from the back wall, said side walls having upper end portions thereof reduced in width at a point intermediate their respective ends, a desk top extend ing laterally from the back wall and being substantially embraced and supported by said side walls at a point substantially adjacent to and below the lower ends of said reduced side wall 'sp'ortions, a shelf projecting laterally from said back wall adjacent the upper end thereof and being substantially embraced by said reduced ,side-wallportions intermediate the ends there- :o'i,'whereby the-ends of said back and side walls form object retaining means for said shelf, an upright wall connected with and extending between 'sai'dback'w'alls centrally thereof, a desk top projecting laterally from said upright wall on each side thereof, said last-mentioned desk tops extending between and being embraced and supported on said back walls on "each side of said upright wall, said last-named desk tops being in coplanar relation with respect to said first-named desk tops, and a shelf projecting -laterally from each side of said upright wall and being "embraced and supported 'betweenbpposite sides of said back WaIlssaidlaStmamed shelves being positioned above said last named desktopsand below the upper ends or sal'd'back and upright walls whereby the portions thereoi'projecting above saidlast-named shelvesfo'rm object retaining means therefor.

2. --In a carrel unit, the combination of spaced apart end study units, each of said units including an upright back wall, upright opposite side walls extending outwardly from the back wall, said side walls having upper endportions thereof reduced in width at a ,point intermediate their respective ends, a desk 'top .eitending laterally from -the -back wall .and'be'ing substantially embraced and supported by said side walls at'a .point substantially adjacent to and below the lower ends of said reduced side wall portions, a shelf projecting lateralllyiromsaiki back wall adjacent the upper end thereof and being substantially embraced by said reduced side wall portions intermediate theends thereof. whereby the ends of said backand side walls form object retaining means for said shelf, upright wall connected with'and-extending'between 'said back walls, a desk top projecting laterally from said upright wa1l,-said last-mentioned desk top extending between and being embraced and supported on said back walls, said last-named desk top being in coplanar rclation with-respectto said-first-named-desk tops, and a :shelf projecting laterally irom said upright wall :and being embraced and supported between :opposite sides of said back -walls, said last-named shelf being positioned above said last-named desktop.

13. In a 'carrel unit, the combinationofrspace'd apart 'en'd study units, each of said units including an upright back wall,-upright :opposite side walls extending outwardly from the back Wall, said side Walls having upper endlpor-tions thereof reduced in width at a point-intermediate their respective ends, :a desk top extending Slater-ally irom :the back wall and being substantially embraced-and supported by said :side walls at a point substantiallyadjacent --to and below the lower ends :of said reduced side wall sportions, a shelf projecting laterally from said back wall adjacent the upper :end thereof and being substantially embraced by said reduced side wall portions intermediate the ends thereof, where-- by the ends of said back and side walls form object retaining means for said shelf, an up-' right wall connected with and extending be tween said back walls, a desk top projecting laterally from said upright wall, said last-mentioned desk top extending between and being embraced and supported on said back walls, said last-named desk top being in coplanar relation with respect to said first-named desk tops, a

shelf projecting laterally from said upright walland being embraced and supported between opposite sides of said back walls, said last-named shelf being positioned above said last-named desk top, and sound proofing material secured to said back and upright walls over portions thereof extending between said desk tops and the upper ends of said walls.

ANGUS SNEAD MACDONALD.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,232,500 Cleary July 10, 1917 1,385,233 Stafford July 19, 1921 

